Department of Psychology at McGill
University

Why do we sometimes rely on slow, deliberative, and effortful choices, while at other times we rely on fast, habitual, and reflexive choice? Why don't we always marshal all of our resources to make the best possible decision? Our research investigates when and why rely on cognitively effortful behaviour.

For example, how does an individual's reliance upon reflective versus reflexive decision-making vary situationally based on factors like availability of cognitive resources, stress, time pressure, or perceived costs and benefits? Why might individuals differ, dispositionally, in their reliance upon reflective versus reflexive choices?

To answer these questions, we use a combination of computational, behavioral, and psychophysiological techniques.